Hair-pin.



PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

J. M. HARTLEY.

HAIR PIN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAIR-PIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1906.

Application filed October 27. 1905. erial No. 284,687.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. HARTLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hair- Pins, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in hair-pins provided with a device designed to prevent the pin from becoming disengaged from the hair and falling out.

The prime object of the invention is to provide a locking device situated so that when the pin is inserted the lock will be opened to permit its free passage into' the hair, and when it has been properly positioned and the hand is removed a spring normally closes the lock against the pin and prevents the latter falling from the hair.

.Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvement, showing it in position to be inserted in the hair. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the lock closed. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line x as, Fig. 2.

1 indicates a hair-pin of usual construction composed of the two prongs 2 2 and connecting-bar 3. On the inside of one of the prongs is formed a seat 4, which receives a tongue of a look, while the cross-bar is provided with a projection 5, formed with an opening 6.

Straddling the cross-bar 3 is a finger-piece 7 of a lock member. A pin 8, passing through openings in the finger-piece and opening 6 in the projection, serves as a pivot for the lock. Depending from one side of the finger-piece is the lock member 9, the lower end of which is twisted to lie between and parallel with the prongs 2 2, the lower end engaging the seat 4. A spring 10 encircles the pin, one end of which engages the under side of the finger-piece, while the opposite end engages under the cross-bar 3.

In placing a hair-pin the prongs are usually held between three fingers and the thumb, and the forefinger engages the cross- Consequently when the lock closes after the pin has been inserted in position strands of hair will be held in the space 6 between the look and the prong, which efiectually prevents the pin from becoming loose.

By pivoting the lock to the cross-bar as de scribed I accomplish the highly-important function of opening it by the same operation of inserting the pin in the hair, thus dispensing with the necessity of using both hands in applying a hair-pin provided with my improvement.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a hair-pin'having prongs and a connecting-bar, a seat formed on the inside of one of the prongs, a finger-piece straddling the connecting-bar and pivotally mounted thereon, a locking device depending from the finger-piece between the prongs, the end of the locking device engaging the seat, and a spring for holding the locking device in the seat.

2. In combination, a hair-pin having prongs and a cross-bar, a seat formed in one of the prongs, a pivoted locking device mounted on the cross -bar and extending between the prongs and twisted to make its lower end parallel with the prongs to engage the seat, and a spring to retain the lock in its seat.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. HARTLEY.

Witnesses:

J. M. MINIE, ALIcE H. BENNETT. 

